Staatliche Luftfahrtfabriken Su-7B
a/c Blue 66, Kommando Streich, Morón, Spain, German Air Forces of the National People's Army (Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee; LSK), 22 October 1958
Personal mount of Major Joachim Streich



The Sukhoi Su-7 was meant to be a fighter. Designed by a Sukhoi team based near Moscow in the Socialist Union, the type was presented to officials of foreign Moscow Pact members through a series of meetings in early 1954. The German delegates were particularly intrigued, commenting that their analysis of the type's specifications led them to believe that it would excel as an attack aircraft. The Air Forces of the National People's Army (Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee; LSK) expressed interest in such a development, much to the frustration of Sukhoi who were convinced they had a superior fighter. After all, it had been designed to meet a supersonic interceptor requirement.




In order for both lines of development to be pursued, the Germans negotiated a licensing agreement to design and build attack versions of the Su-7. The task was assigned to Staatliche Luftfahrtfabriken, a German state owned aviation company. Sukhoi only showed interest in developing an attack version of the Su-7 when the fighter's orders were cut to 198. By then, Staatliche Luftfahrtfabriken was flying prototype attack Su-7Bs and had the exclusive license to build them under their company's branding.




This German lead meant that most flight testing for the Su-7B was undertaken in Germany. Similarly, it was the LSK that formed a combat trails unit for the type. Kommando Streich, led by Major Joachim Streich, deployed to Morón in Spain in June 1958. Major Streich had extensive combat experience, having flown rocket-armed MiG-15s during the 1954 Red invasion of North Africa and later MiG-17Fs on ground attack duties. For both of these tours, Streich was a member of Jagdbombenfliegergeschwader 77, a unit he would later command.



Kommando Streich flew its first combat mission on 5 August, striking a forward US Army position in a pre-planned strike. Making a fast, low altitude attack near Béchar, Algeria, 8 Su-7Bs were accompanied by 12 Red French Farmer fighters and 10 German Fluffy fighters-bombers. This was the UN's first look at the Su-7, a shaky hand-held film showing large, swept wing jets streaking across the terrain at low altitude. Identified as a new fighter type, the reporting name Fitter was assigned to the Su-7.



Kommando Streich remained active until 27 November. By then 3 aircraft had been destroyed for the loss of 2 pilots KIA. Early missions used pairs of the MARS-2 rocket launchers each firing 16 55mm projectiles. This was standard on LSK attack aircraft. These pods were replaced by the new 16 round UB-16-57 in October. Other weapons carried included 250 kg bombs, cluster bombs and napalm tanks. Air refueling extended the Fitter's short range, enabling these Spanish-based aircraft to operate successfully over North Africa.



Photographed on 22 October during the UN's Operation Postal offensive, many of the German Fitter pilots made hot stops at Boufarik, Algeria, to refuel and rearm before returning to the fray. From here they attacked the flanks and rear of the UN's unsuccessful
thrust towards the Mediterranean coast. Several of the Su-7Bs were damaged, including Blue 71 which made a wheels-up landing at Aïn Oussera, Algeria, but all were repaired and returned to service.



Lessons learnt from the Kommando Streich deployment were fed back to Staatliche Luftfahrtfabriken, Sukhoi and the LSK, resulting in the Su-7BM. This and subsequent models were branded as Sukhoi products, a revised contract having been negotiated in the meantime. Subsequent development included the Egyptian Helwan 500 and swing-wing Su-17, -20 and -22 series.



Joachim Streich went on to be a Qualified Weapons Instructor at The Airpower Excellence Centre (aka Red Top Gun) and commanded Jagdbombenfliegergeschwader 77 during a combat tour flying Su-7BKLs in 1962. He retired with the rank of Oberst and continued to serve as a civilian academic and whilst employed by the International Defence Academy. Blue 66 was his personal mount throughout the Kommando Streich deployment. It is modeled here as photographed before its first combat mission with UB-16-57s on 22 October 1958.

The King of Kool Kamo is back!

Nice one, comrade!

Certainly suits that camo scheme 

 

Marvelous

Cool bird and a nice little read as well. Cheers !

Quote from: Old Wombat on December 10, 2024, 04:01:03 AMThe King of Kool Kamo is back!

Nice one, comrade!

Thank you.

I struggled with this scheme until l found the right tonal balance.

Mighty fine looking beast!

Nice camo!!

Very good.   

Makes me wonder which tanker aircraft would have been used by the GDR's LSK? 

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on December 16, 2024, 06:10:07 AMMakes me wonder which tanker aircraft would have been used by the GDR's LSK? 

Must have been a Baade 152

David aka 63CPE

 

Quote from: 63cpe on December 16, 2024, 10:58:19 AMMust have been a Baade 152

The Whiff of ALL Whiffs! 

An Il-62 tanker would be nice, too.